The inflation rates of Negros Occidental and Bacolod City have decreased by 0.3 and 0.6 percent, respectively, records from Philippine Statistics Authority showed.
PSA-Neg. Occ. data showed that the latest inflation rate of the province slowed down to 4.5 percent in August from 4.8 in July, while Bacolod City’s dropped to 5.6 percent from 6.2 percent.
The inflation rate of the province was attributed to negative growth of Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages, Transport, and Education Services.
Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco, Clothing and Footwear, Housing/Water/Electricity/Gas and Other Fuels, Health, and Recreation/Sports and Culture, and Restaurants and Accommodation Services manifested a positive growth rate last month, PSA said.
The province’s inflation began at 2.5 percent in January and steadied since April within the 4 percent range, which peaked at 4.8 percent in July and reached 4.2 percent in May.
In Bacolod City, the decline in inflation rate was attributed to a slight decrease in the indices of some commodities like Food and Non- Alcoholic Beverages, Transport, and Education Services.
Relative to their annual rates in the previous month, higher inflation rates were observed in Clothing and Footwear, Housing/Water/Electricity/Gas and Other Fuels, Furnishings/Household Equipment and Routine Household Maintenance, Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco, Health, Information and Communication, Recreation/Sports and Culture, Restaurants and Accommodation Services, and Personal Care and Miscellaneous Goods and Services.
Bacolod’s inflation rate has been on an accelerating trend, having started at 2.5 percent in January and peaking at 6.2 percent in July.
Western Visayas inflation rate averaged at 4.8 percent, while the country’s national average slowed down to 3.3 percent, from 4.4 percent in July.*